Grow Your Blog Party

I'd like to welcome all of you who are stopping by for the Grow Your Blog Party and say Hello to
friends who have been around for a while.  My name is CatieAn.  I am married for 43 years to John
and we have a beautiful family of four married children and 7 precious grandchildren.

                                    We live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
                                
                                                We are both retired and love the leisure of our lives.
                                               I was a Pediatric Oncology and Intensive care Nurse
                                           John was a Cardiovascular technician in the Heart Cath Lab.


I originally started blogging in 2007 when I had to retire early for medical purposes.  I was looking for kindred spirits that shared values and similar interests.  It is also a way to chronicle my life from time to time and share with others. We all have so much to give to each other through common interests and just life in general. I cherish the friends I have made through blogging and hold them dear in my heart.

                              I hope you find something that draws you in and brings you back. 

                 I love to decorate my house, inside and out.  I repurpose, upcycle, love collecting junk and stuff.  I am into buttons and fabric, mannequin heads, Victorian arts and crafts, hearts, hands and crafting in general.
                                                                           
                                                                   I love to make art:

(water color)

                                                                           assemblage

                                                                        portrait drawing

(pencil, charcoal, pastel)
                                                                              
                                                                            sewing

                                                                            collage

                                  
                                                               I also love photography:

We put in an in ground pool last year and love to share it with our family and friends and all the neighbor children.  I love decorating  and making our yard a fun place to hang out.

For the past 8 years, I host 10-15 children once a week.  We cook, sew, create art, learn manners and have a great time hanging out.  John and I see it as a personal ministry to give back to those in our community.  There is no fee.  We provide all the supplies needed and parents take turns sharing snacks.  The first group of kids I started with are now graduating seniors.  They bless are lives in many ways.

I am going to give away two gifts to two visitors.  I will draw the names randomly on Feb. 15th.  You do not have to have a blog to participate and you can live any where in the world.  I just need a physical address when I draw your name so please make sure I have a way to contact you, should you win.   I have repurposed these vintage tins and vintage doll parts:

Please stay awhile, look around, enjoy yourself. Hopefully you will find something that interests you  and you will  come back soon.

             If you see something you want to pin, you have my permission as long as you give   me credit.  If you have any questions about anything please email me and I will be happy to       answer  them. catiean@aol.com.

To follow the Blog Party Hosted by Vicki @ 2 Bagsful click the banner.  There are over 400 international blogs participating. Vicki has spent countless hours putting this event together once again.  She is an amazing artist and philanthropist and her fiber art is just too delicious.
                                                                 
                                                                        Have FUN.